Apparatus for treating packaged filamentary material with liquid



May 30, 1950 J. A. woofiRuFF umm'us FOR TREATING PACKAGED J FILAMENTARYIATERIAL WITH LIQUID Filed Jan 31, 1945 l WQWW INVENTOR.

Patented May 30, 1950 I APPARATUS FOR TREATING PACKAGED FILAMENTARYMATERIAL WITH LIQUID Jackson A. Woodruif, St. Davids, 1a., assignor asAmerican Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware Application January 31, 1945, Serial No. 575,545-

This invention relates to apparatus for use in treating filamentarymaterial in the form of a wound package with liquid such as dyeing,washing, bleaching, and the likeliquids.

The primary object of the invention is to provide apparatus in whichwound packages of fllamentary material, such'as rayon cakes or the likeare supported in submerged condition in the treating liquid during theentire liquid-treatingoperation, but which permits free access to thepackages at all times without necessitating discharge of the liquor fromthe vessel containing it. Another object is to maintain the cakes insubstantially their original shape during passage of the treating liquidtherethrough. Still another object is to permit the passage of theliquidunifor'mly through all portions of the packages from the inner tothe outer surfaces thereof, or vice versa, without undue compression ordisplacement of the convolutions constituting the packages.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by the provisionof an improvedappa- -ratus for use in liquid-treating the annularfilamentary packages in submerged condition in the liquid, whichcomprises a vessel for'the liquid having associated therewith at leastonehollow perforated arm forsupporting the packages internally, andthrough which the liquor may flow from the inner to the outer surface ofthe packages or vice versa, the arm being swingable relatively of thevessel for alternately submerging the supported packages in the liquidand swinging the supported packages clear of the level of the liquid,and means for maintaining the level of the liquid such that it is abovethe packages when the latter are supported in the vessel.

' In the accompanying drawing, which illus- 'trates a preferredembodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed in accordancewith the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and

Figure3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I III-III of Figure 1.

from the inner surface of an end wall of vessel 8 Claims. (c1. 68-189)introducing treating liquid into the hollow arm or permitting the escapeof liquid therefrom as will appear hereinafter. A permanent flange 9 anda removable flange in are positioned at P- posite ends of hollowperforated portion 4 of arm 3. Removable flange Ill is latched to acap-like member ll.

A support comprising an upright post-like member l2 and an inclinedmember I! is secured to extension '6 and pivotally flxed to a support Imounted on the upper'rim of vessel 2, by a pivot pin IS. The arm 3 isthus-pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis so that when it is swunginto vessel 2, all of the packages 5 are submerged in the treatingliquid, as shown in solid lines in Figure 1, and when it is swung out ofthe vessel all of the packages are supported clear of the treatingliquid, as shown in. dotted lines in Figure 1. A stop I6 is provided onsupport l2 for 0 retaining the arm in place when it is out of thevessel.

As is apparent from Figure 3, the outer surface of the packagesupporting portion of arm 3 is fluted. Preferably, the diameter of theouter 5 points of the flutes is somewhat smaller than the insidediameter of cakes 5, so that the inside surface of the cake conformsapproximately with the periphery of the fluted arms without theoccurrence of excess folds or tension between the peaks of the flutes.

other annular wound packages of filamentary material are slipped on thearm, the number ofcakes placed on each arm being such that when thecakes are submerged in the treating liquid there is sufficient spacebetween the cakes to permit some lateral expansion thereof due to liquidtake-up without compressing the cakes together. Removable flange or headIII is then placed on the arm and secured in place, after which the armis swung into horizontal position in the vessel. Treating liquid isdelivered to the vessel through the action of pump I"! which is drivenby motor I8. The treating liquor may be delivered to header 8 throughthe perforations in the arms, and thence through the filamentarypackages supported on the arms from the inner to the outer surfacesthereof. The level ofthe bathis maintained by the overflow pipe l9. If

desired, the procedure may be reversed, the dye-.

ing liquor being delivered directly through the 2. The pipe communicateswith aheader 8 for pipe I 9 into vessel 2, passing from the vessel 8through the cakes, from the outer to the inner surfaces thereof, throughthe perforations in arms 3 to the interior of the arms, and thence outthrough header 8.

Preferably, vessel 2 is filled with treating liquor when the freshlyloaded arms are swung into horizontal position therein, at the start ofthe operation, so that the cakes or other wound packages are submergedin the liquid during the entire treating procedure. The pressure underwhich the treating liquid is forced through the cakes may be variedsomewhat, but in general it is preferred to maintain the liquor under acom paratively low pressure of from about 5 to 25 lbs. per square inch,and a large volume of liquid is used, to insure access of the liquid toall portions of the cake while avoiding undue compression of the cakes,distortion of the shape thereof, or displacement of the cake windings,as well as to insure that the level of the bath is at all times abovethe outer windings of the cakes. When the treating liquid has passedthrough the cakes and the operation of treating the cakes has beencompleted, or if for any other reason access to the cakes is necessary,arms s may be swung upwardly out of the vessel so that all of the cakesare supported clear of the level of the liquid bath.

Filamentary material which, in the form of wound packages, is treatedwith liquid in the apparatus of the invention is not subjected toabnormal strain and is more uniformly treated since distribution of thetreating liquid through the. package is more thorough. Also, since thecakes are submerged in the treating liquid during the entire treatingoperation, they are at least partially buoyed up by the treating bathand do not tend to be pulled out of shape by the action of gravitationalforce, such as occurs when packages of filamentary material aresupported in a vessel and merely sprayed with treating liquid of anykind.

The apparatus of the invention is especially useful when filamentarymaterial in the form of wound packages is to be dyed. Filamentarymaterial thus dyed is characterized by level dyeing and uniformity ofshade throughout, and the dyeing method is simple and practical, andmost economical of the dyeing liquor. Further, by virtue of the factthat the supported packages may be readily removed from the dyebath,without disturbing the bath or necessitating discharge of the bath fromthe dyeing vessel, it is possible to dye packages of material the samecolor but in shades of varying depth in the same operation. Thus, wherepackages of light and dark shades are desired, arms on which thepackages of lighter shade are supported may be swung out of the bath,while others may be permitted to remain in horizontal position in thebath until the filamentary material supported thereon is dyed a deepershade, suitable adjustments being made in the concentration of thedyebath as required. It is also possible to dye packages supported onthe same arm in difierent shades by swinging the arms out of thedye-bath when the desired shade is attained, removing some of thepackages from the arms, replacing such packages with a, blank sleeve ofa length corresponding to that of the cake or cakes, and swinging thearm back into horizontal position in the dyebath where it is permittedto remain until the filamentary material has been dyed a shade of thedesired depth.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modificationsmay be made in the appara- 4 given by way of illustrating the principlesof the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention which is not to be limited except as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one perforated armthe outer surface of which supports a plurality of the packagesinternally, the arm being constructed and swingably mounted on ahorizontal axis, the axis of swinging being adjacent one end of the armand spaced from the package-supporting portion of the arm, foralternately submerging the supported cakes in the liquid and swingingthe supported cakes clear of the liquid, means for holding theperforated arm in stationary position in the vessel and means formaintaining the level of the liquid above the packages in the vessel.

2. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liqaid, at least one hollowperforated arm the outer surface of which supports a plurality of thepack ages internally, the arm being constructed and swingably mounted ona horizontal axis, the axis of swinging being adjacent one end of thearm and spaced from the package-supporting portion of the arm, so thatwhen it is swung into horizontal position in the vessel the supportedpackages are submerged in the liquid, and when it is swung away from thevessel, the packages are supported clear of the liquid, means forholding the perforated arm stationary when it is in horizontal positionin the vessel and means for maintaining the liquid-level above thepackages when the packages are supported in the vessel.

3. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath oftheliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one hollowperforated arm having an outer fluted surface for supporting a,plurality of cakes internally, the arm being constructed and swingablymounted on a horizontal axis, the axis of swinging being adjacent oneend of the arm and spaced from the package-supporting portion of thearm, so that when it is swung into horizontal position in the vessel thepackages are submerged in the liquid, and when it is swung away from thevessel the packages are supported clear of the liquid, means for holdingthe perforated arm stationary when it is in horizontal position in thevessel and means for maintaining the level of the liquid above thepackages when the packages are supported in the vessel.

4. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one hollow,perforated arm the outer surface of which supports a plurality ofpackages internally, the arm being constructed and swingably mounted ona horizontal axis, the axis of swinging being adjacent one end of thearm and spaced from the package-supporting portion of the arm, so thatwhen it is swung into horizontal position in the vessel the packages aresubmerged in the liquid, and when it is swung away from the vessel thepackages are supported clear of the liquid, means for holding the pertusdescribed and shown herein, which is merely 7 forated arm stationarywhen it is in horizontal position in the vessel means for circulatingthe liquid through the arm and through the packages from one surface tothe other thereof, and means for maintaining the liquid level above thepackages when the packages are supported in the vessel.

5. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular Wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one perforated armthe outer surface of which supports a plurality of packages internally,the arm being constructed and swingably mounted on a horizontal axis,the axis of swinging being adjacent one end of the arm and the upperperiphery of the vessel, and spaced from the package-supporting portionof the arm, so that when it is swung into horizontal position in thevessel the packages are submerged in the liquid and when it is swungaway from the vessel the packages are supported clear of the liquid,means for holding the perforated arm stationary when it is in horizontalposition in the vessel and means for maintaining the level of the liquidabove the packages when the packages are supported in the vessel.

6. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one perforated armthe outer surface of which supports -a plurality of packages internally,the arm being so constructed and swingably mounted on a horizontal axisadjacent the upper periphery of the vessel that when it is swung intohorizontal position in the vessel the packages are submerged in theliquid and when it is swung away from the vessel the packages aresupported clear of the bath, means for holding the perforated armstationary when it is in horizontal position in the vessel and anoverflow for maintaining the level of the liquid above the packages whenthe packages are supported in the vessel.

7. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one hollow,perforated arm the outer surface of which supports a plurality ofpackages internally, the arm being so constructed and ewingably mountedon a horizontal axis adjacent the upper periphery of the vessel thatwhen it is swung into horizontal position in the vessel the packagesare/submerged in the liquid and when it is swung away from the vesselthe packages are supported clear of the liquid, means for holding theperforated arm stationary when it is in horizontal position in thevessel means for circulating the treating liquid through the arm andpackages, from one surface to the other of the packages, and means formaintaining the level of the liquid above the packages when the packagesare supported in the vessel.

8. Apparatus for use in treating with liquid filamentary material in theform of annular Wound packages, in submerged condition in a bath of theliquid, comprising a vessel for the liquid, at least one hollowperforated arm having a fluted outer surface for supporting a pluralityof packages internally, the arm being constructed and swingably mountedon a horizontal axis, the axis of swinging being adjacent one end of thearm and the upper periphery of the vessel that when it is swung intohorizontal position in the vessel, and spaced from thepackage-supporting portion of the arm, so the packages are submerged inthe liquid, and when it is swung away from the vessel the packages aresupported clear of the liquid, means for holding the perforated armstationary when it is in horizontal position in the vessel and means formaintaining the liquid level above the packages when the packages aresupported in the vessel.

JACKSON A. WOODRUFF.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,629,856 Boughton May 24, 19271,709,774 Clarke Apr. 16, 1929 2,109,893 Abbott Mar. 1, 1938 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 8,403 Great Britain 1910 54,484 SwitzerlandFeb. 9, 1911 427,913 France Aug. 17, 1911 469,222 Great Britain July 21,1937 Gertificate of Correction Patent No. 2,509,282 May 30, 1950 JACKSONA. WOODRUFF It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows:

Column 5, lines 33 and 50, strike out so; lines 34 and 51, for adjacentread the axis of swinging being adjacent one end of the arm and; samecolumn, line 35, and column 6, line 1, after vessel and before thatinsert the comma and Words and spaced from the package-supportingportion of the arm, so; column 6, lines 24 and 25, strike out and spacedfrom the package-supporting portion of the arm, so and insert the sameafter vessel in line 22, same column;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of August, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

